Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Helmets and Gear Helmet wishes

Man, a buddy of mine and I were talking about helmet technology yesterday. The end was that this is 2005, helmets do darn well at damage control and have advanced leaps in the past few decades, but this is 2005!
He wanted advanced stuff, like Bluetooth built in, and was wondering why a helmet manufacturer didn't do something like buy out Chatterbox and build it into a helmet. I pointed out that Chatterbox was owned by... HJC... that's right, the helmet folks. You'd think they would sell a helmet with the stuff made micro and built in. Wing riders and HD Ultra Classic guys get helmets matched to technology on the bike. But you should be able to get a helmet with basic comm and music built in without having to get an entire bike built to do it, this is 2005!
As for me, I wish helmet manufacturers would put a little more time in the basics. Like a shield that doesn't fog or leak! Not asking for the moon! Just a shield that keeps water out when it's raining and has a functional de-fog system! Heck, if they'd spend as much on enginering shields as what they spend on designing graphics in a year or moving around those stupid vents that don't work, they could scoop the market on something really worthwhile. Guess it comes down to selling a graphic package helmet for hundreds of dollars to the great un-washed sport bike masses, or spending a little on engineering better equipment for the few year round riders that would be willing to drop a few hundred on something that works. I currently use an HJC SyMax and a Nolan N100, both have flip chin bars. The Nolan has a removeable chin curtain and breath shield. Every full or flip should have a built-in flip-down chin curtain contained in the chin area. How hard is that? The SyMax doesn't even offer or accept a chin curtain! And the breath shield! Both have them and neither work! I'd like to see the engineer who designed this piece of crap riding in the cold and actually breathing! And there are shields that darken and lighten depending on light conditions, that's great and I'm going to get one, but again, this is 2005 almost 6! There are welders mask that go from light to dark and back in an instant! How hard would it be to transfer that tech to a motorcycle helmet? Yes, a welders helmet is big and bulky, but come on, micro tech makes anything possible!
Aerostitch makes a riding suit that costs over $700. I've seen guys in this suit that didn't spend that much on what they're riding, why not a helmet that does more than just look good while keeping your grey matter contained in a crash?

OK, I'm finished for a while. Have a happy Thanksgiving, eat a lot and be thankful! A little prayer for those GIs who haven't been home in a long time would be appreciated too.

Though the site is not fully updated yet, this now also comes in Bluetooth.

How about a rear view helmet?
See what's behind you!!
2005 enough for you?

Steaming-up visor? Ever heard of Fog City? I used one - works fantastic, but my specs fog-up!! Need mini ones for glasses

Or the Pin Lock system on my new Shoei - again works brilliantly! (and, I must say, a very quiet lid!).

I've seen a picture of the new Arai Astro-R lid. It has a wire with a din plug coming out of it.
Must wait until next months mag to find out about that though - possible communication lead / phone / bike-to-bike comms .. ?

Just a few bits for you to be going on with ....

Great links Adey. Are you trying to usurp Moe as BA.com's resident 'find that link/website' expert?

John, I agree with you. The technology is there, so where are the goodies?

Motorola was/is working on a BlueTooth offering with MOMOdesign (an Italian company). Hey primero, can you tell us anything else about this company?

Read about the initial announcement here (it's from awhile ago):
http://blogs.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/09132004192230MWENDM.htm

I went to MOMOdesign's website and they actually have this helmet listed (btw, if nothing else, check out their helmet designs. Awesome!).

Go here:
http://www.momodesign.com/eng/index2.html
click on Collection>Helmets>Motorola and you should be at the Fighter BlueTooth model. Very cool looking helmet...

More digging produced this:
MOMO U.S.A. Inc.
25471 Arctic Ocean Dr.
Lake Forest,California 92630 U.S.A.
Phone (949)380-7556

Whatever is made it would have to be removable for repair or replacement. You slam your helmet and you're looking at losing Bluetooth and all unless you can pull it out. I've never been that interested in holding a conversation when riding. I ride to get away from it all, my cell phone stays in the saddle bag uless I have an emergency and an intercom defeats the purposeof my great escape.

I'm with you on that, I don't need music or conversation when I ride.
But, lighter materials, and air vents that actually work would go a long way towards getting those on the "fence" to wear a full-face helmet more often. I have a cheap full-face DOT approved helmet. It has a chin bar that flips up along with replaceable shields that flip up as well, but I'd rather ride with my shorty any day.

As jj says, it is 2005-6, there should be more emphasis on comfort and utility than on Troy whatshisname graphics.

Hey Phil

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if nothing else, check out their helmet designs. Awesome!)

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I HATE the Momo range of lids .....

...... OK, I'm just p!ssed cause none of 'em fit me ......

I love 'em realy!

Personally i think the one and possibly most important (aside from safty which they've done well at) area they have lagged behind in is noise ! What good is sound if you can't hear it over the noise, and the quietest helmets today aren't that quiet at speed and even when going slow for many of them. Wind noise should have been fixed long ago but isn't much better.

Hey Dale
I had to do a double take just then .. I thought I'd mentioned noise.
I know I've mentioned noise - must be on another thread ..

The new Shoei XR-1000 I just bought is lovely and quiet.
Best lid I've had for cutting out the noise, in fact.

I recently had some custom made earplugs done and it's great in there when I combine the two.

Hey jj

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The new Shoei XR-1000 I just bought is lovely and quiet. Best lid I've had for cutting out the noise, in fact.

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Must be UK thing. The only thing I can find in a Shoei close is the RF-1000

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I think you're right.
The XR-1000 looks like the same lid.
I went for black - natch!!

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And for some reason we (or at least I) don't get pinlock standard. My Nolan has pins on the shield for it, but it only comes ordered separately

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I was with Jan (AKA: Speedy23) when I bought it and he blagged me a pinlock insert off the salesman!!

It was a bit scary to fit! You have to take off the visor and straighten it out!!
I was waiting for the explosion (like when you snap a CD)!!

Love my Shoei RF-1000 helmet. Very quite and light weight. Aerodynamics of the helmet design really reduced the helmet bobble associated with riding. It's very stable, which reduces neck strain, unless you are riding two up then the added rider disturbs the air flow and you get the side to side buffeting.
As for ventilation it's the best I've ever experienced.
Fogging is still an issue when stopped. I've found it clears quickly once you resume speed.
As for ultra fast auto tint I might be interested. Bluetooth, no way. Leave the phone out of the riding experience. MP3 player, I'd use it on occasion. I'd rather listen to bikes sounds, especially the bad ones.

Steve

My wish is for a quieter, lighter helmet that fits this round NOT oval head of mine. By the time I get it wide enough it is way too tall...

As Victor Meldrew would say "I don't belieeeeve it!!" ..
Can't remember who I said this to but for once, my crystal ball I was proved right!

I said "we will be able to get high level (helmet mounted) brake lights!"

Look HERE , seventh item down .....

Well I'll be a monkies uncle!

(Go on, admit it. You'd look a right twat wearing it wouldn't you??)

And what about THESE for your off road shan .. shenan .. antics?

Hey Adey - Or anyone...
What do we know about Roof Boxers? I saw one of the bonneville guys at the GA Rally with one last year and loved it. I'm getting tired of lugging around an extra helmet, and love the 2 in 1 function of the boxer. I can't find any dealers in the states and the guys at www.lidsforless.co.uk have them for 199 pounds plus a staggering 80 pounds for shipping... it's a lot for a lid I can't even try on...
any idea's if it's worth the cash?

webbikeworld reviews consistently mention a venting/fogging problem and maybe something a little cheesy with the chin bar lock. I have a Nolan N100 and an HJC SyMax. Both are good hats, but a bit noisier than a standard full (noted as well with the Roof). I prefer the snug fit, quik chin buckle and removeable airblock on the Nolan. Also I believe the Nolan is the only modular with metal-to-metal chin bar attaching.

Yeah, I just like the fact that you can wear the roof as a 3/4 with the chin flipped back. I ride mostly with a half helmet so I would want something that wasn't a parachute above 35mph...